Organization
Rajana Society
The Rajana Society is a Khmer arts organization in Seattle, Washington, founded in 2003 by Khmer students at the University of Washington.[1] Its name means "artistically creative" in Khmer.[1] The society works to advance Khmer arts within the community and around the world, to promote Khmer artists and to take part in policy advocacy.[2][3]
History
The founders saw the society as a response both to the tragedies of the past and to the need of Cambodians around the world for cultural advancement and for solidarity between generations.[1] It is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit under the Seattle-Sihanoukville Sister City Association (SEA-SIH).[4]
Sameth Mell came to the society as a University of Washington student. He served for a year as its public relations officer and later became its president.[5] Under his leadership the society held a Khmer arts summit, Spean Rajana, "the bridge to artistic creations," which brought artists in film, photography, spoken word, music and dance to Seattle.[5]
Programs
The society has sponsored nearly annual trips for Khmer community members to tour Cambodia. Each trip follows a planned itinerary that lets members meet and talk with established artists and take part in a range of creative activities.[2][3] As of 2024 the society presented itself as an arts and civics project focused on civic engagement and on bridging cultural divides with the Cambodian diaspora.[6]
Community
The Rajana Society is a member organization of the Cambodian American Community Council of Washington (CACCWA). As a member it takes part in the council's general meetings and helps elect its board, and the council works with its members on programs, sponsored events and other community opportunities.[2] The society's listed partners include the Ministry of Arts and Culture, the United Nations, student organizations across the United States, the Cambodian Genocide Museum in Seattle, the Killing Fields Museum in Chicago, F.I.G.H.T. and the Seattle-Sihanoukville Sister City Association.[1]
See also
- Cambodian American Community Council of Washington
- Seattle-Sihanoukville Sister City Association
- All organizations
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rajana Society, About
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cambodian American Community Council of Washington (CACCWA), Member organizations (March 2023)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cambodian American Community Council of Washington (CACCWA), Community partners (October 2024)
- ↑ Rajana Society, home page
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rajana Society, Executive team
- ↑ International Examiner, Community resource directory (September 2024)